english has a cool built-in heuristic for detecting bullshit are...
zxy@zelinarxy
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May 15, 2025
~2 min read
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english has a cool built-in heuristic for detecting bullshit
are most of the nouns and verbs being used latin/greek or germanic in origin?
if germanic, the things being discussed are probably real physical actions and things: tree, walk, cow, shit, fall, wood, buy, leg, go
are most of the nouns and verbs being used latin/greek or germanic in origin?
if germanic, the things being discussed are probably real physical actions and things: tree, walk, cow, shit, fall, wood, buy, leg, go
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if they’re latin or greek, caution is advised: concept, information, imply, connote, equity, liberty, diversity, oppress, empower, persecute, periphery, center, idea, intellect
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germanic words are the ones we needed in 1065 and have never stopped needing. real words for real things
latin and greek words are ones the norman french aristocracy felt lost without, or philosophers and scientists felt the need to borrow from the ancients (or make up)
latin and greek words are ones the norman french aristocracy felt lost without, or philosophers and scientists felt the need to borrow from the ancients (or make up)
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it’s not that they’re all vapor. it’s just good to keep in mind. if you’re asking yourself, “is this bullshit?” first ask yourself, “is there any way to express this without a lot of latin and greek?”
if the answer’s no, you can be sure at the very least it’s not lindy
if the answer’s no, you can be sure at the very least it’s not lindy
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here’s an example: “misinformation”
we have germanic words that appear to cover this concept just fine: “lie” and “wrong”
but those won’t do becuase “misinformation” doesn’t mean wrong. it means heresy (greek)
and it needs to be latin because it has to sound official (latin)…
we have germanic words that appear to cover this concept just fine: “lie” and “wrong”
but those won’t do becuase “misinformation” doesn’t mean wrong. it means heresy (greek)
and it needs to be latin because it has to sound official (latin)…
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institutional (latin), judicial, legal, the domain of experts (all latin except “of”)
you don’t need a masters degree to know what is and isn’t a lie (old english). what’s right (old english) and wrong (old english)
meaning they can’t use a real word without looking absurd
you don’t need a masters degree to know what is and isn’t a lie (old english). what’s right (old english) and wrong (old english)
meaning they can’t use a real word without looking absurd
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they have to raid the liturgical languages for something polysyllabic and impressive: “misinformation”
and that’s how you know they’re lying*
*every word in this sentence is old english
and that’s how you know they’re lying*
*every word in this sentence is old english
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sucks for spanish and french. although i guess they can at least assume any english borrowing is bullshit, since it necessarily comes from business, hollywood or academia in the last ~70 years
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“sucks for spanish and french” as in: they don’t have two sources of vocabulary. it’s all latin, including the normal earthy everyday vocabulary
there’s nothing inherently earthier about germanic roots or airier about romance ones. that’s just how it shakes out within english
there’s nothing inherently earthier about germanic roots or airier about romance ones. that’s just how it shakes out within english
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“crazy, drug-addicted homeless people” (OE latin-latin OE latin) becomes “people experiencing problems related to drug addiction, homelessness and mental illness” (latin latin greek latin OE latin latin OE OE latin OE)
the only change in meaning is a huge helping of bullshit
the only change in meaning is a huge helping of bullshit
zxy@zelinarxy
“people experiencing problems related to drug addiction, homelessness and mental illness”
you mean crazy, homeless drug addicts
enough with the new speak. tortured phrases don’t alter reality
you mean crazy, homeless drug addicts
enough with the new speak. tortured phrases don’t alter reality
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btw i’m not double checking all the etymologies for all these words. i’ve likely gotten a couple wrong. i’m such a nerd about this stuff i welcome (polite) corrections
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if you enjoyed this thread i wrote a book. not about etymology, but about some bullshit people have been using a *lot* of latin and greek to try and dress up
amazon.com/right-transact…
amazon.com/right-transact…
